A couple in Singapore was left stunned after an online purchase of baby formula turned into an unexpected delivery of instant noodles. The incident happened after Isomil Stage 3 formula became unavailable at major supermarkets across the island, pushing the parents to look for alternatives online.
According to a post shared on the Complaint Singapore Facebook group on Tuesday, 27 January, the husband explained that he decided to try online shopping only after repeated failed attempts to find the formula in stores. The original poster was later identified as 38-year-old private-hire driver Mr Luo, whose name was transliterated from Mandarin.
Speaking to 8world News, Mr Luo said he and his wife had already checked several major supermarkets and even visited the brand’s official website, but the formula was consistently out of stock. With limited options left, the couple continued searching.
Turning to Online Sellers
On 26 January, the couple came across a Shopee seller named “mobileaid” offering Isomil Stage 3 formula as a bundle deal. The product listing advertised two tins at a promotional price, with delivery promised within two days. Believing it was a genuine listing, they placed the order and paid S$117.21 for the two tins.
However, what arrived the next day was far from what they expected.
Parcel Contained Instant Noodles
Instead of baby formula, the parcel contained only a single cup of Myojo chicken-flavoured instant noodles. Photos shared online showed the cup noodles inside the package, clearly not matching the product description or listing images.
Mr Luo said the parcel felt unusually light when he picked it up. He only realised something was wrong after checking the packing list and opening the package.
Online Reactions and Warnings
The post quickly gained attention, with many netizens commenting on the incident. Most agreed that the seller was at fault. One commenter praised Shopee’s customer service, saying the platform is usually reliable when handling disputes. Others advised shoppers to be more careful when making expensive online purchases, while some suggested the case could be a possible scam.
Shopee Issues Full Refund
Mr Luo later shared an update confirming that Shopee had initiated a full refund as of 28 January. He also confirmed to MS News that the refund had been processed and arrangements were made to collect the incorrect item.
According to 8world News, Mr Luo eventually managed to buy one tin of the formula after visiting more than 10 supermarkets.
In the comments section of the original post, he explained, “We already [checked] multiple major supermarkets . . . and only managed to secure [one] can.”
Responding to queries from MS News, a Shopee spokesperson confirmed that the refund was issued “in line with Shopee’s standard processes”. The spokesperson added, “The delivery of the incorrect item was due to a seller error. Shopee has taken necessary actions with the seller in line with our platform policies.”
The spokesperson also said, “We remain committed to providing a reliable and seamless shopping experience for our users.”
